After a long run of games with little reward, things have rather come to a head. Yes, we really did ‘acquit ourselves well’ at Old Trafford, and at home to Liverpool, but we bagged zero points. Yes, it’s true, that Ben Foster and Tom Heaton were the stars of their respective shows, and genuinely we did ‘deserve’ more than a point from those two fixtures, but a point is all we got. At Leicester midweek there’s a valid argument that we genuinely were the ‘better team’ – but again left empty handed.
There can be no excuses today. No hard luck stories. No hollow moral victories. Whatever Huddersfield, referee Mr Dean, or Lady Luck throw at us, nothing less than three precious points will suffice.
A couple of changes made by Chris Hughton. Bissouma in for the injured Groß, a welcome return for Bernardo at left back, and a rare Premier League start for Alireza Jahanbaksh, ahead of Solly March – makes some sense, as he’s looked pretty good against Championship standard opposition in previous games. March will be back next week, I’m sure, to try a repeat of his star turn in the Palace home game.
The Terriers line up, in too. No surprises:
Our celebrity ref got things underway, and the two sides, with a solitary league win between them since the New Year, set about producing possibly the worst 45 minutes of football that the Best League In The World™ has witnessed, in a long, long time. Possibly since Swindon and Bradford went down.
The league’s bottom side, 12 points below the safety line, showing a spectacular lack of ambition, in what must surely have been as ‘winnable’ a game as any remaining. Despite actually looking reasonably comfortable, Jan Sievert’s team of strapping six (and a half) footers, took every opportunity to roll around for a bit, or have a little cry. Stand-in left back Juninho Bacuna the worst culprit. Great name. Shithouse whiney bitch of a player.
The Albion mustered a few set pieces – Dunk and Duffy getting in each other’s way to waste the best of them. Pantomime villain Alex Pritchard (booooooooooo, etc) saw his effort from distance spilled by Maty Ryan (Socceroo) – the keeper needing to react quickly to flick the loose ball away from danger.
After 40 minutes, the Amex crowd, and no doubt millions of Premier League devotees around the globe, saw the first glimmer of quality. Yves Bissouma fed Alireza down the left, for the Prince of Persia to cut inside and unleash a magnificent drive, that the hapless Lössl thought was going two yards over the goal, but dipped and smashed off the face of his bar. Just maybe those Eredivisie YouTube clips were actually not all faked.
The next ball forward, saw Glen Murray lead with an arm, challenging Stankovic in the air. Mr Dean, famously sat on 99 career red cards, decided that Glenn wasn’t nearly a notable enough victim for his big moment, and issued a caution. I’ve visions of Dean, flourishing his next red, then holding up his whistle or notebook to each stand, like a batsman acknowledging three figures. I hope he does. The prick.
Snidey little irritant Jonathon Hogg limped off hurt, replaced by Aaron Mooy, and that was time for a breather, from all the ‘excitement’.
A ‘gourmet’ coffee (surprisingly decent) and a quick check of the other scores (not bad) later, and we’re ready for more top class entertainment.
Bissouma the first to provide a bit – the Malian youngster driving through the Terriers’ midfield, and slipping the ball into the path of Murray. As the Albion top scorer looked set to slot away his 100th Albion league goal, Bacuna slid in to produce a terrific last ditch tackle, entirely out of keeping with his 90 minute display. It was to be the veteran forward’s last involvement, jogging off, to be replaced by Florin Andone – finally back after a stupidly-earned ban, which seemed to last for weeks.
The Romanian set about making up for lost time - charging about the opposition back-line. No peace with this lad around. Next chance to Jahanbaksh - decent move through the middle, ending with the Iranian half-hitting a low shot from a tight angle – comfortable enough for Lössl, but promising, nonetheless.
Out of nowhere, a foot race to a loose ball. Andone’s through on goal if he gets there first – desperate lunge from Kongolo – '30,000' pairs of eyes of Mr Dean – play on – got the ball – just. A whole different challenge now for the Terriers’ towering defenders.
After another entirely ineffectual Amex appearance, off goes Pritchard, to an inevitable chorus of boos, replaced by Kachunga – a bit more pace, and of course height. Can’t have enough big lads, after all. Little threat from the visitors this half, but a chance on 65 minutes for Billing – firing firmly into Ryan’s midriff from a few yards out. Decent opportunity that.
Twenty minutes left, and the crowd are getting understandably tense. The Albion not playing badly second half – Stephens and Pröpper entirely in control of proceedings - but where’s the goal coming from? Have to find a way to win this game. HAVE to. Andone picks up the ball 25 yards out, and smashes it, on the half turn – high to Lössl’s right. The Danish keeper flings out a big glove, and beats it away. Had enough of opposition keepers these last few weeks. This one is bang average at the best of times – surely not him too?
Another change – Jose Izquierdo on in place of Alireza, for his first Amex appearance in months. Please stay fit Jose. He can make such a difference. Jose’s involved immediately – winning a cheap free kick out wide, from Kachunga.
Anthony Knockaert is trotting across to claim it, then throws his hands up in classic French disgust, as it is knocked down the line to Izquierdo, before he arrives. Huddersfield are sleeping though – Knockaert spins back into the box, and is rolled in by Jose. Mooy has failed to close Le Petit Magicien, who takes a quick touch, then delivers an utter peach of a curling cross – Florin Andone rises to guide it firmly past the hopelessly exposed keeper. It’s a great header. A superb goal – on a completely different plane to the rest of the game. Utter joy abounds. Andone’s celebration earns him the skin from both knees, and a yellow card – but who cares? What a goal. What blessed, blessed relief.
Barely has the noise subsided, when they’ve almost gone and immediately blown it – Mounie rising to send a firm header under the bar – just enough energy left in little Maty’s legs after his 100-yard sprint to join the bundle, to spring up and tip it over. Come on Brighton! Not today, eh?
Bissouma down – cramp maybe. Replaced for the final ten minutes by the ever-dependable Beram Kayal, to help win the midfield battles. 80 minutes gone, and Mr Dean, despite being decked out in lurid fluorescent yellow, has been largely inconspicuous. 80 minutes is one thing – 90 quite another, and sure enough Mike has a couple of big calls to make before we’re done.
Andone wriggles past Kongolo into the box – the defender dives in – takes out everything. As clear a pen as you’ll see, surely? Mike says no. North Stand incredulous. Kongolo may have got the tiniest toe to the ball, in the process of wiping him out, but also tugged on his arm, and dragged him back by the neck!
Shocker of a decision, followed a minute later by another. Bernardo surges toward the box, clearly yanked back at the shoulder by sub Hadergjonaj (‘Hasnogonads’ according to the Terrier’s forum) once just outside, then twice more, less clearly, within it, before crashing to the deck. Sake Mike – it’s a penalty – put this accursed match out of its misery before we have the chance to do something stupid. Play on! If we can’t have the penalty, at least give us the free kick then? Absolute clown.
We then endure the additional time afforded to Huddersfield to try for an equalizer – all accrued through their timewasting at 0-0, which always seems entirely inequitable. Fortunately they are after all, a bit rubbish – so nothing comes of it – and the less rubbish Albion take the spoils of a ‘famous’ victory.
Results elsewhere mean a welcome five point cushion, to the drop zone.
‘Just’ two more should do it.
Just...
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